Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Happy Independence Day Fruit "Cake"

Happy Independence Day

My office just might be the potluck capital of Texas. It seems we have a potluck for everything: birthdays, holidays, celebrations, and possibly the arrival of a new shipment of Post-it notes. I often struggle to come up with the healthy dish for the party (sometimes the only one), so I tend to default to fruit salad. Lea brings the fruit salad. Just automatically pencil me in on the sign-up sheet.

Before I tell you about my contribution to this year's office Fourth of July party, I must warn you first that I do not have a crafty bone in my body. Oh, how I wish I did. I have this desire to be crafty-creative, but
not the ability. I love Pinterest and I pin all these cool things that I come across,
most of which I will never complete due to my complete lack of ability. My theory is that God can't give you everything, or else one
would just get a big head. He allows us to be lacking in some
areas to keep us humble. Crafting and singing are my weaknesses. OK, there are a lot more, but let's not go into that now.

I saw this on Pinterest and since I received a mini watermelon in my last Bountiful Baskets haul, I thought it would be a perfect treat for my potluck! No more boring fruit salad!

I was inspired by Pinterest and I was on the look-out for some mini star-shaped cookie cutters for my project when I came across this kit at Wal-Mart in the produce section! It was only $10 and it has a variety of shapes. I was excited! I see many fruit bouquets in my future. In fact, if you know me in real life, this is likely what you are getting for Christmas. Sorry to spoil the surprise.

But as I mentioned, I am a bit craft (and kitchen) deficient so I enlisted the help of
my friend to help me cut the watermelon into a cake-like shape.

Once it resembled a cake, all I had to do was stamp out the star shapes from the ends of the watermelon that we cut off (so easy) and thread the skewers with the blueberries and star shapes. I added strawberries to the side with tooth picks and left the remaining fruit around the cake at the bottom. So easy, even I could do it.

As a joke, while I was threading the blueberries on the skewers, my
friend made a watermelon alien face while she was waiting on me. I thought it
would be perfect for a Pinterest "Nailed it" photo.

But really, it came out looking much cuter than that. Check out my mad crafty skills!

The dessert table

Someone called me an undercover Martha Stewart and that made me laugh since I am the furthest thing from Martha Stewart (insert prison joke here). It was really fun to make my watermelon cake and it was a big hit at the office.

How are you celebrating Independence Day? What do you bring to the office potluck?

Love it! You did an awesome job! I just made a corn salad for a potluck we are going to tonight. I was trying to make something healthy that at least one of my kids will eat, and luckily DD loves it. DS however, who several years ago told the pediatrician that his two favorite vegetables were ketchup and pickles, does not. Have a happy 4th!